The Power of Gratitude in Grief

The Power of Gratitude in Grief

by | Oct 30, 2023 | Uncategorized

After losing my husband to cancer, I didn’t find much to feel grateful about. He had died way too early – we were supposed to grow old together. With catastrophic loss, of course, comes catastrophic grief. I felt cleaved in two, invisibly hemorrhaging pain, fear,...
On the Frontlines

On the Frontlines

by | Mar 1, 2021 | Uncategorized

Certified Nurse Aide Blanche Pichon-Benford doesn’t consider herself brave. Neither does RN Valerie Sims, or Social Worker Rachel Poppers. Yet they were among the first to volunteer for Hospice Austin’s COVID-19 Response Team in March, back when little was known about...
Hospice Austin Chaplains – Holding a Sacred Space

Hospice Austin Chaplains – Holding a Sacred Space

by | Oct 26, 2018 | Uncategorized

The end of a person’s life can so easily be consumed by chaos – pain, fear, grief, denial. Hospice Austin chaplains meet patients where they are, and, in the process of listening, bring comfort, peace, and invite patients to reflect on and define the meaning of their...

Honoring Madelyn’s Wish

by | Aug 9, 2018 | End-of-life care, Hospice, Patients, Uncategorized

In February 2017, 16-year-old Madelyn Shoales was diagnosed with a rare type of brain cancer. She underwent surgery to remove the tumor, followed by six weeks of radiation. Two weeks after her surgery, she returned to school to finish out her sophomore year. Madelyn...

Loving Spirits

by | Jun 14, 2018 | Being Present, Caregiving, Hospice, Uncategorized

Stacy Pruitt became a certified nurse aide after witnessing the subpar care her grandmother received from a nursing aide in her small town. Suzanne Armistead became a CNA after seeing the excellent care her brother received. Andrew Stratman became a CNA after visiting...